The Catalpa Tree is producing the long seed pods for which is it known. They look like long beans. Right now they are green, but will turn black and fall off in a month or so.
- It is a member of the trumpet vine family
- Northern Catalpa Trees have larger leaves then Southern Catalpa Trees and are a slightly different species
- The name comes from the Native American word Catawba of the Catawba Tribe of South Carolina
- It is also knowns as the Cigar Tree or Indian Bean Tree
- Native American peoples used the leaves and bark as a poultice
- The Catalpa Sphinx Moth caterpillar eats only the leaves of this tree. It can defoliate the tree, but usually does no permanent harm. Fishermen use the caterpillars as fish bait so often plant these trees as a good source of bait.
- The largest Catalpa Tree is in Lansing, Michigan
- They were once planted near railroad tracks to be a source of wood for railroad ties and eventually naturalized around the country.
- It is usually pronounced Catalpa in the North, Catawba in the South.
